Artificial intelligence: examples, types and characteristics

What is artificial intelligence?

The term artificial intelligence (AI) refers to intelligence operations carried out by machines designed to reproduce the capabilities of the human brain through combinations of algorithms.

More specifically, artificial intelligence is one that allows certain machines to perceive the environment around them and respond to it in a similar way to the human brain. This implies the ability to perform functions such as reasoning, perception, learning, and problem solving.

Computer science, logic, philosophy, and robotics have contributed to the creation and design of machines capable of solving problems using the artificial intelligence model.

The term artificial intelligence was first coined by John MacCarthy, Marvin Minsky, and Claude Shannon in 1956. They defined it as the "science and ingenuity of making intelligent machines, especially intelligent computer programs."

However, the first inquiries go back to the Greeks. Aristotle was the first, in fact, to describe the functioning of human thought and the rules by which it is capable of reaching rational conclusions.

Examples of artificial intelligence

AI is present in much of today's technology, especially in smartphones , tablets, computers and all kinds of devices with integrated electronic systems.

As an example of artificial intelligence in daily life we ​​can refer to:

• home automation (intelligent air conditioning, programming to turn lights and appliances on and off, etc.); autonomous vehicles; voice assistants such as Google Assistant, Siri (Apple) or Alexa (Amazon Echo), among others; Google predictive dictionary; Image recognition software; Security and fraud control software; Habit analysis software; Predictions for digital marketing; Predictions and suggestions for the consumption of news, music, films, series, etc.

Types of artificial intelligence

From a theoretical point of view, there are four different types of artificial intelligence today, according to researcher Arend Hintze. Let's see.

Reactive machines

It refers to those machines designed to evaluate the information available in the environment and solve an immediate problem based on said information. This type of AI does not store or memorize and therefore does not learn. Your task is to analyze the information of a given moment, build possible solutions and choose the most efficient one.

In 1990, IBM created a system with this capability called Deep Blue, responsible for having won a game against champion chess player Garry Kasparov. Today, reactive AI is used in autonomous cars, for example.

Machines with limited memory

It refers to technology that uses information obtained from a database and that, in addition, can record basic information about the environment and learn from it. This is the case, for example, of GPS technology.

Machines with theory of mind

It is a type of AI that is still in development. It is hoped that in the future certain machines will be able to understand both human thinking and feelings and make decisions based on it. Therefore, it involves social interaction. An example of such AI research is the robot Sophia, created in 2016.

Machines with self-awareness

Machines with self-awareness would be those capable of having self-conscious perceptions, thoughts and attitudes, that is, machines capable of perceiving, reasoning and acting as human beings.

Characteristics of artificial intelligence

• Ability to react to information available in the environment; Memory and learning from specific experiences; Ability to solve specific problems; Adaptability; Ability to sensory perception (auditory, visual, tactile); Ability to manage, that is, a coherent infrastructure and clear for its application; Resilience, that is, capacity for optimization; Good performance, that is, the possibility of efficiently handling a large amount of information; Measurable character to quantify performance and make future investments.